Fair Oak & Horton Heath Parish Council Assessing Asset Transfers from Eastleigh Borough Council

Go Back ← Go Back

As part of the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire, the Parish Council is currently assessing several community assets for potential transfer from Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC).

EBC has a long standing adopted policy of transferring assets to town and parish councils in line with the localism agenda, ensuring that local assets are managed at the most local level for the benefit of the community. While some transfers have taken place historically since the early 1990’s, EBC still retains several community assets, including play areas and public open spaces, in the Parish, which could now be considered for transfer.

In the context of potential local government changes, EBC has approached all town and parish councils within the Borough to gauge their interest in taking over these assets. In January 2025, the Parish Council established a Task & Finish Group to assess the feasibility of transferring and managing many sites currently owned by EBC within the Parish.

As part of the vetting process, the larger public open spaces and amenity lands were visited by the Parish Council’s Task & Finish Group, supported by Council Officers and an external public open space consultant. These visits focused on identifying health and safety concerns, assessing local amenity and wider community value, considering risks of future development, and evaluating the strategic importance of each site.

At the 20 March Full Council meeting, the following assets were confirmed for transfer:

  1. Knowle Hill Conservation Area
  2. Fair Oak Road Verge
  3. Noyce Drive
  4. Stubbington Way/The Beeches
  5. Chapel Drove

Assets Requiring Further Consideration:

A small number of other assets remain under review. If deemed suitable for transfer, the Parish Council will inform residents on site locations via the monthly e-bulletin and social media channels.

EBC aims to complete asset transfers by October 2025, with the Parish Council taking full responsibility for maintenance from April 2026. Any remaining EBC-owned assets will be transferred to the new unitary authority (date yet to be confirmed). In the interim, EBC will continue managing these sites. Funding details associated with the transfers are yet to be determined.

The Parish Council is committed to engaging with residents, particularly those living near the affected sites, to seek their input on future improvements. In the meantime, Council Officers will conduct detailed assessments of both newly acquired and existing sites to determine current standards, necessary improvement works, and innovative management approaches for the future.

Chairman of the Parish Council, Helen Douglas, commented:

“This is a great opportunity to ensure that community assets with real local value are managed directly by the Parish Council, allowing us to tailor maintenance and improvements to the needs of our residents. While we are keen to take on responsibility for key sites, not all assets will be transferred before the new unitary authority is established. However, we will continue to review and discuss these assets with the new strategic authority in the future to ensure the best outcomes for our community.”

For further information on Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire, visit: https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/governmentinhampshire/devolution.

For media enquiries, please contact: Carly Giles, Communications & Events Officer